ALEXANDRIA, Va. (WUSA9) -- Police have identified the 45-year-old officer and 17 year veteran with the Alexandria Police Department who was involved in Wednesday's shooting as Officer Peter Laboy.

According to police, the suspect is Kashif Bashir, 27, of Woodbridge, Virginia. Bashir is in custody and has been charged with Malicious Wounding of a Law Enforcement Officer and Use of a Firearm in Commission of a Felony, police say. He is being held without bond.

Police say Laboy is underwent surgery on Wednesday, and was in critical condition at Washington Hospital Center.

The Police Chief is there along with family. The concern is for the life of this officer but Alexandria Police would also like know how a minor traffic stop escalated with the officer being shot.

Police say it all started around 11:45 a.m. on Wednesday, when the cab driver was involved in a minor traffic infraction.

That's when the motor officer spotted the yellow cab minivan, tried to pull the driver over at Wilkes and South St. Asaph Streets in Olde Town when the officer was shot, police say.

The motor officer was found lying on the ground, his motorcycle on its side.

The shooting happened right next to Lyles-Crouch Elementary school where two first grade classes were on the playground.

Heather Cirmo's son is a first grader who was in the cafeteria when the shots were fired.

"A stray bullet could have easily gotten on the playground. The kids were brought inside and the school was in lockdown. The school did a good job."

Alexandria Yellowcab confirms the person taken into custody is a contract driver who's been driving for the company for four years. The General Manager says he's never had a complaint about him and that he was always polite and friendly. He says this comes as a shock.

Kyle Summers says the cab driver is Phakistani, and he shares the vehicle with his father. The cab driver's computer was off at the time meaning he wasn't working.

Police have not said how many times the officer was shot. The principal sent out an email that went out to parents of students at the nearby school saying there were two shots fired.

The general manager of Alexandria yellow cab confirms the suspect is a contract driver who's worked for them for four years. Kyle Summers says he was friendly and polite, and this all comes as a shock to him.